Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr.Cornwell How long were each of your drafts? For example: 1st draft might be 150 page 2nd draft might be 200 pages

Charlie Spoors

Submitted March 13, 2009

A

There isn't a rule . . . . . I usually write maybe 20% of the book, then start again, get to 40% and start again, and so on, and I'm constantly revising, so there aren't really distinct drafts. I do know that when I at last get the whole book done for the first time, that the subsequent rewrite will add 15% more words . . . . .

Q

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. Two of the characters in the Saxon Tales, Uhtred and Svein, bear Sutton Hoo-style helmets with elaborate face plates, Uhtred of a wolf and Svein's of a wild boar. I'm trying to visualize what they would have looked like. Do you see their face plates closely contoured to the wearer's face like the Sutton Hoo? Or would they have been extended out to simulate the animal's snout, rather like a pig-face bascinet of the Hundred Year's War? I realize that their is no way of knowing short of digging up another helmet of this style, so I need you to speculate a little. Also, would the face plate have a locking mechanism to hold it up in case you want to speak without the face plate in the way and don't want to take the helmet off? This should be determinable by the remains of the Sutton Hoo. Thanks, Alan Kempner

Submitted March 13, 2009

A

I don't think they used the 'pig-snout' helmets - and any helmet with face plates was probably a luxury item. I suspect that most cheek-plates were fixed - a hinged one is possible, but would need some latching mechanism. I doubt they were too closely contoured, simply because of the difficulty of wearing such an item, but of course there were superb craftsmen and I am sure that some really elaborate helmets were made - sadly they haven't survived. We only have the Sutton Hoo example because it was grave-goods.

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell: At the library today I picked up a copy of Agincourt and read just a few pages. You can imagine the pleasant surprise of seeing a character bearing my surname--this is a first in my 40 years, and a great treat. I flipped to your afterword and flipped through it quickly (didn't want to spoil the book, though) and then came here to see if you had posted anything about this name choice. Could you enlighten me on your motivation for this character's name--based on any historical research, or just a random choice? Thanks.

Eddie Slayton

I wondered if the character Lord Slayton is historically based.Being a Slayton,I have spent time in the UK on geneaological research and have not found him.
Virgina Slayton

Submitted March 13, 2009

A

I don't have that research with me at the moment - I'm fairly sure, though, that the name came from the muster roll of the army that fought Agincourt. We have most of the names - archers as well as men-at-arms - and I drew almost all the characters' names from those long long lists.

Q

Hi, Mr. Cornwell! As a big fan of your books, particularly Sharpe's maybe because part of the action takes place in my country, I would like to ask you if you have any plans of "bringing" Sharpe back to Portugal with the 95th, in 1808 when Napoleon's 1st Invasion occurred. Thanks and keep up the good work!

Pedro Morgado - Portugal

Submitted March 13, 2009

A

It just might happen in a short-story, but I've made a rule not to go backwards again with Sharpe! But I do think a short story about the initial fighting in Portugal is a good idea!

Q

Thank you for your enlightening series of novels. I have read the Starbuck, Saxon and Holy Grail series. Please give us more! I have a couple of questions. At the end of Lords of the North Uhtred is riding a large black stallion. The horse disappears in Sword Song. What happened? Do you think you will complete anymore novels in the Starbuck series? Hopefully you are writing another sequel to the Saxon series. Thanks

Peter Mitchell

Submitted March 11, 2009

A

God knows. I can't remember. I imagine he kept it? He'd have owned several horses!

I am writing the next book of the Saxon stories now; and I do hope to get back to Starbuck before too long!

Q

Okay, I noticed someone asked you if you had ever considered Robin Hood... You said yes, I assume you decided against it, however I'm shocked. I am a Robin Hood fan, and one of my favorites was Monty Python and the search for the Holy Grail... Robin was a coward, and it gave so many alternate thoughts about characters... If I am correct that you will not be writing a book about Robin Hood may I ask, "Why not?"

Dustin Bean

Submitted March 11, 2009

A

Maybe I will . . . not yet though. And I'd need to do an immense amount of research in an attempt to discover what truth (if any) lies at the heart of his stories. It's a possibility . . . .

Q

Did you enjoy history at school? What school did you go to? cheers,

Mitchell Taylor

Submitted March 11, 2009

A

I loved it. I went to Monkton Combe School, close to Bath in England.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, As odd as it may sound, my brothers and I have a ranking system for books. I am proud to announce that the Sharpe books have recently joined some VERY, VERY elite company in our "top tier". We liken a book making it to our "top tier" to someone climbing Mr. Everest. We were wondering if you have a "book ranking system" either formal or informal that you use to place the "top tier" books you may read throughout life?

Conor

Submitted March 11, 2009

A

I suppose I do - though it isn't quite as formal as yours, and it's endlessly shifting, but there are certain books that do stay very special for me and are constantly re-read.

Q

Hi, just a quick note to say how much I have enjoyed reading the Saxon and Arthur books. I can't wait for the next installment of Uhtred's story, what I want to know is will there be anymore to Derfel's story (Arthur)? as I would like to know more of what happens to him in the time after Arthur's demise. thank you.
Peter Wilkinson

Submitted March 11, 2009

A

No, I do not plan to add more to the Arthur books.

Q

Hi Bernard,I hope that you're keeping well.I've recently decided to re read The Warlord Chronicles and have rediscovered how good that they are.I personally think that they would make a cracking TV series in the mould of HBO's Rome.Your take on the Arthur story seems to be an adult,realistic vision,with political intrigue,great characters,vengeance,love and great action scenes.The thing though that has stuck me most in re reading the stories is that every time that I come across the character of Merlin in the tales,I always think of the actor Brian Cox.When Merlin talks,I hear his voice echoing out from the page,Merlin's dialogue seems to be written for his voice.I'm sure that when you wrote the stories you didn't have Brian in Mind specifically but do you as you are writing characters for your books,imagine an actor playing the role in your head and consequently adapt the character's speech cadence to the way you would imagine the actor would deliver the lines? or do you just write the dialogue as if it were you yourself that were saying the words?Thanks in advance if you find the time to answer. Anthony Hegarty

Submitted March 11, 2009

A

I didn't have Brian Cox in mind, but his voice suits the character very well! I don't think I imagine any particular actor when I write dialogue (except for Sharpe, when I definitely hear Sean Bean's voice), but I do hear the voices distinctly, and the characters tend to dictate how their dialogue should be written. Does that make sense?